Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-03

HERKIMER, N. Y, Feb. 2S.-At II
o'clock to-day Mrs. Druse paid the
penalty of her crime. t. ..
STORY OF HER CRIME.
Mrs. Druse is the fifth woman hanged
in New York State, and it is 35 years
since an event of this character has
taken place. William Druse, the mur-
dered man, resided with his family
Mrs. Druse, their daughter Mary, their
son George and their nephew, Frank
Gates, on farm at Warren, Herkimer
county. On the morning of December
Is, 1884, Druse arose, built fire in the
kitchen stove and repaired to the barn
to do chores. Before he returned the
other members of the family had eaten
breakfast, which caused quarrel be.
tween the man and his wife. Mrs
Druse called the children into another
room and ordered them to assist her tC
"put the old man out of the way.N She
handed loaded revolver to Frank
Gates and a rope to her daughter, and
told them to help her make "sure jot
of it,"
The Gates boy entered the kitchen
and while behind Druse, who was
seated at the table, he fired two shots
both of which took effect. Mary threw
the rope around her fathers neck anC
dragged him from his chair to the floor
As he attempted toerise Mrs. Drusl
took the revolver from Frank ant
emptied the remaining bullets into he
| husbands body. Druse had life enough
to beg the murderers to spare him, bu
Mrs. Druse seized an ak and strucl
| blow after blow on the neck of the dy
ing victim, till his head was severed
from the trunk. The body was cut VI
/ by Mrs. Druse and Mary while thu
boys watched outside the house, ant
after the flesh had been boiled in tn
kettle it was fed to the hogs. Th
bones were burned in stove and tn
charred remains were placed in boz
and bag and hidden in swamp.
Mrs. Druse was thrice sentenced t.
be hanged, the last time being on De
cember 20. The governor granted re
prieve to Feb. %, pending the decision
of the Legislature on the bill to abolish
the death penalty in the case of women
but the measure failed to become ;
law.
MRS. DRUSE's CONFESSION.
|
ROME, Feb. 2S.-The Sentiseps Her
kimer special says: "At 8 oclocl
yesterday morning DR.. Powell receives
a message from the Jail requesting hi
presence at once as Mrs. Druse wished
| to see him. He Immediately went t,
the cell of the doomed woman, VIII,
greeted him very warmly. The attend
ant was requested to leave them in Sc
| clusion, but refused to do SO. Sheriff
Cook was appealed to and his reques
granted. ..
Mrs. Druse then said: "Mr. Powell
I havesent for you to make confession
will you listen?" .a a
"Yes, certainly" replied the doctor.
"What I am about to say to you ha
never been made public before, and
assure you on the honor of woma
standing on the brink of the grave, tina
I am speaking the truth. The worl
has turned against me, but / knoN
that have one friend left, and that
you. Now you must promise that yo
will not say word of this until I an
gone. Then you can publish it and lie
thiscruel world know the truth of tn
matter. / don't want to take an
more of your time thanI can help, 8
[ will begin: I must take you bacl
before the murder and tell you of
conversation had with Charles Gate
| in reference to the killing of Druse. ]
was about December /, on Wednesda
night. Druse was away, as he usual
was big part of the time. Gates cam
lin and asked me if I was alone
Georgia and Frank were out ridin
down-hill, and Mary was up-stairl
Gates then asked me If did not wan
/ to get rid of Druse. I told him / wa
nearly dead now and did not care whs
happened. He asked me if / had til
pistol he gave me yet. 1t was in tn
pantry and I told him so. I went an
got itand showed it to him. He sa,
1t was not loaded in all the barrels an
he put in some more cartridges an
gave 1t back to me. He wanted t
know If I could fire it, and I went t
the door and snapped it. 1t did not g
off, and put in another cartridge an
said: We'll; know how to do it an
| that is enough He then said: Nov
If anything happens you can depend o
me to help you.' Then he went ava
and came back on December II, th
night before the murder, and told m
! to hurry UP and take the first chance
got. He said / should not burn til
head and that he would take care O
that. He said he would get the buck
wheat at the same time and save an
oniIca IF c,1Spioio,, The s,,axt ,x,n,... =.